Loss of Gibson leaves attack worryingly bare

Championship Division 2 Nat League Division 2 Captain Jeremy Snape Coach Tim Boon Overseas Players Mohammad Asif Dinesh Mongia Out Phil DeFreitas (retired) Charlie Dagnall David Brignull Nick Ferraby Ottis Gibson

Revolving door
A new senior coach in Tim Boon, who stepped down as Duncan Fletcher's technical analyst to return to Grace Road after an 11-year absence. He replaces James Whitaker, who was made redundant from his post of director of cricket. Fresh life has been breathed into Jeremy Snape's career following his promotion from 2nd XI coach to take charge of the first team. Mohammad Asif's stint as overseas bowler is likely to be cut short by Pakistan tour commitments. Ottis Gibson has joined Durham and Charl Willoughby Somerset. Phil DeFreitas, now 40, and Charlie Dagnall, who was released, have retired.

Winter wonderland
Boon has spent much of the winter raising the club's profile in the county and fostering links with Leicester's sizeable Asian community. The county chairman Neil Davidson was awarded a CBE for his services to the dairy industry in the New Year Honours List.

Strengths
Plenty of experience in both batting and bowling. Boon's coaching pedigree should allow him to prove that you can teach old dogs new tricks.

Weaknesses
The departure of Gibson - 104 Championship wickets in the last two seasons - has left a huge hole in the seam attack.

Best-case scenario
Proficient one-day team so strong challenges in the Twenty20 Cup and for promotion in the Pro40 League can be expected. Championship promotion candidates only if they can convert more fifties into centuries and find someone to take Gibson's wickets.

Worst-case scenario
Another season of near misses if the batsmen again flatter to deceive and the county cannot strengthen the hugely depleted seam attack.

Young one to watch
Stuart Broad. A tall seamer, and son of ex-England opener Chris, who made an encouraging debut last year and will have benefited from his winter with England A.

Key man
Hylton Ackerman. His reign as county cricket's first Kolpak captain was short-lived but the former South Africa batsman still made 1,000 Championship runs last season.

What they say
"We are trying to create a no excuse culture where there is nothing that can distract the players," says the senior coach Boon. "If I can help each player make a 2% improvement in his game we are going to be up there."

Mark Wagh
Will be a difficult year, especially losing last year's leading wicket-taker Ottis Gibson. Huge challenge for Snape but excellent opportunities for the younger players including the highly-rated Broad.

Predictions County Championship 9th (D2) Pro40 7th (D2)
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